📅 May 14, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
🔥 Virat Kohli Century Powers RCB Past KKR in High-Scoring Raipur Thriller
Virat Kohli produced a masterclass chase as Royal Challengers Bengaluru hunted down Kolkata Knight Riders’ 192/4 with five balls to spare in Raipur.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 105 off 60 balls, smashing 11 fours and 3 sixes, while Devdutt Padikkal supported him with a fluent 39.
Earlier, KKR were powered by Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 71 and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 49, but their total proved just short against a clinical RCB chase.
📊 Match Summary
KKR: 192/4 in 20 overs
RCB: 194/4 in 19.1 overs
Result: RCB won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli
📊 Match in Phases
| Phase | KKR | RCB | Key Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay | 56/2 | 66/1 | RCB started faster despite losing Bethell |
| Middle Overs | 85/1 | 79/1 | Raghuvanshi held KKR together, Kohli-Padikkal controlled chase |
| Death Overs | 41/1 | 48/2 | Kohli finished with authority |
📖 Match Story
KKR began aggressively through Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane, but RCB struck inside the Powerplay to reduce them to 48/2.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi then played a classy innings at No.3, scoring 71 off 46 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.
Cameron Green added 32, while Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 49 off 29 balls helped KKR reach 192/4.
RCB’s chase was built around Kohli’s control. After Jacob Bethell fell early, Kohli and Padikkal added 92 runs to put RCB ahead of the asking rate.
Even though Kartik Tyagi picked up three wickets, Kohli never allowed pressure to build and completed a superb century before sealing the chase.
⭐ Players Who Shaped the Match
🔥 Virat Kohli: 105* off 60 balls – a vintage chase masterclass.
🔥 Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 71 off 46 balls – KKR’s best batter on the day.
🔥 Rinku Singh: 49* off 29 balls – gave KKR late acceleration.
🔥 Devdutt Padikkal: 39 off 27 balls – crucial support in the chase.
🔥 Kartik Tyagi: 3/32 – KKR’s standout bowler.
🔄 Turning Point
The turning point was the 92-run stand between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. That partnership removed pressure from the chase and ensured RCB stayed ahead despite KKR taking wickets later.
What Went Wrong for KKR
❌ KKR failed to break the Kohli-Padikkal partnership early.
❌ Vaibhav Arora and Anukul Roy leaked runs at above 12 economy.
❌ The death-over finish was slightly below par after reaching 151/3 in 16 overs.
❌ Varun Chakravarthy’s absence reduced their middle-over threat.
🏆 Player of the Match: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli was the difference between the two sides.
His unbeaten 105 off 60 balls was not just about boundaries, but also about chase management, strike rotation and timing the acceleration perfectly.
It was a classic Kohli innings – calm at the start, ruthless in the middle, and clinical at the finish.
📈 Interesting Match Stat
Kohli’s century helped RCB chase 193 with five balls remaining, while KKR lost despite having only four wickets down, showing how decisive RCB’s Powerplay and middle-over control proved.
🧠 Final Analysis
RCB once again showed why they remain one of the strongest chasing sides of IPL 2026.
KKR had enough runs to compete, but Kohli’s brilliance turned a tricky target into a controlled chase. Padikkal’s support, Jitesh Sharma’s calm finish and RCB’s strong Powerplay gave them the edge.
For KKR, Raghuvanshi and Rinku were positives, while Kartik Tyagi’s three-wicket spell stood out. But their bowling lacked sustained pressure, especially once Kohli settled in.
This win gives RCB major momentum, while KKR will need to quickly recover as the playoff race tightens.
